BIG little Friends

Catch the Bug Day4 Bingo: I chose  Animals-Sentiment-Button.
Incy Wincy: I chose the middle row: twine-red-button

These friends are so engaging and seemed just right for this sentiment.  I like that you have to look into the picture to find the wee mouse.  I am a dots lover and found this scrap of  wonderful red/green bp in my stash and let that dictate the colour scheme.

Image coloured with Reno pens, heart and flower also have WoS.


Image: Bugaboo Stamps
Sentiment: Kaiser
Punch: Fiskars

Shared on challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/day-4-bugaboo-birthday-bash-new-release.html
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.ca/2016/01/tic-tac-toe-jan-18-to-31.html
http://www.craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com.es/2016/01/hi-everyone-doris-here-with-our-next.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=3939 best friends
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/challenge-95.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-26.html

I'm not sharing

I'm not sharing, go get your own!

Simple card, simple image, it works for me.  Image coloured with Reno pens, cherry has Glossy Accents on.  The dark card is a chocolate brown ... like the icing!


Image: Pink Petticoat
Nesting Dies: Couture Creations
Scribble die: Dienamics
EF: Sizzix


Shared on challenges:
http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/challenge-79-cake.html

Just Kissing

Stamp kissing is an interesting, usually subtle, technique where you use a simple negative type stamp and stamp another onto it (while both are wet) before putting it to paper.








Here I have used a tree with music 'kissed' onto it.  Inks are 3 shades of yellow orange, kissed with dark green; the combination makes it's own colour.  Click on the detail for a close-up.

Tree Stamp: Hero Arts
Music stamp: unknown
Sentiment: BoBunny

Shared on challenges:
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/week-259-theme.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-69.html

Make a Wish

MMMmmm, I wish I had more stencils ...

This is the first time I have used this new stencil because although I loved it when I bought it, I really didn't know what to do with it! 
I sponged distress inks over the stencil using three colours, using heavier inking in the centre and gradually fading out toward the edges to make an ombre effect.  I also wanted some texture in it because it was always going to be a simple card, therefore I 'dabbed' (instead of rubbing) to leave the sponge dotty-ness.

I like the tone on tone-ness of this card, and there is really more colour variation in the card than shows in the photo. 

Distress Inks: broken china, tumbled glass, peacock feathers.
Stencil: Kaisercraft
Sentiment stamp: Kaisercraft,  Ranger cobalt ink
ribbon & pearls from stash

Shared on challenges:
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/time-out-challenges-47.html
http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-171.html
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/welcome-back-to-first-challenge-of-new.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-ombre/

A Tall Story

Bugaboo Day3, This one is about colour:



Lovely jungle colours to work with.  I coloured the giraffe with Reno pens.  The wine tree (...I wonder if it grows wine?) is double-layered with 3D foam between layers for dimension.  Edges of embossed cards are inked with toning colours; clouds are inked with white chalk ink (doesn't show up very well.. actually at all).
I like the way this fella is part of the scenery.


TicTacToe: the line is trees-diecuts-critters.

Digi image: Bugaboo
Tree die: Couture Creations
Cloud die: Memory Box
EF's: both Sizzix
Stamp: Hastings Arts Stamps

Shared on challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/day-3-bugaboos-6th-birthday-bash-color.html
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.ca/2016/01/z-is-for-zero.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-26.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge-17th-of-january.htmlhttp://tictactoechallenge.blogspot.ru/2016/01/challenge-two.html

Let's Party

Bugaboo Day 2

Today is a sketch:







I've had this animal washi tape for ages and hardly used it, but this is the perfect opportunity.

Digi Image:  Bugaboo
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's
Animal print EF: Cuttlebug
Grass EF: Sizzix
Chevron die:

Shared on challenge:

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/day-2-6th-birthday-bash.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge-17th-of-january.html
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/challenge-95.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-68.html

Go Wild

Bugaboo Day 1 Wild Thing

I love these simple naïve images, they are so contemporary and fun.  I reckon this would be okay for an adult or a child birthday. 


Image: Bugaboo
Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts
Paw Stamp: Whispers/Docraft
Grass die: Impression Obsession



Shared on challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/6th-birthday-celebration-saturday-wild.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/124-card-for-child-stitchy-bears-digi.html

Kitty Hugs

I(heart)sketches
I wanted the kitty to stand out against the background, so chose similar intensity papers to set kitty on.  Doesn't everyone like kitty hugs?



Image: From the Heart Stamps
Sentiment: Rosie's
Papers: from stash


Shared on challenge:
http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2016/01/11/i-heart-card-sketches-with-a-twist-134/
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-23.html

Seize today

Mojo430

Dot, dots, dots - I love dots.
Not my usual colour palette (well, the blue is but not the brown), but I decided I quite like it.
I embossed the circle with stars and lightly inked them with gold.  The diecut bird is lightly inked on the top edges with white chalk ink.

Scallop die: Spellbinders
Bird Die: Impression Obsession
Red wriggly edge: deco scisssors
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's
EF: Sullivan's

Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/mojo-monday-430.html
http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/favourite-paper-or-non-paper-project.html

Wow

Mojo sketch

This woman can say anything she likes; she is sassy and can speak her mind.  It is a great retro image, and I like these papers that support the image.

Stamp:  Funny Bones (NEW stamp)
Sentiment: typed on computer
Diecut scallop: Spellbinders
Punch: Martha Stewart















Shared on challenge:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/mojo-monday-430.html
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/time-out-challenges-47.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-68.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-23.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/pennys-challenge-260.html
http://open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca/2016/01/monthly-challenge-1-something-new.html

Football Al

Embossing #101
The challenge this week at Come And Get It challenges is for Embossing, either dry or heat embossing - I used both types of embossing in this card.  Come and join in with us at Come And Get It challenges.

What a perfect image for a boy's card - a Time for Tea digi image.  Jackson, one of my grandsons will be seven next birthday, and he loves football so this is for him.

I dry embossed blue card, rubbedVersamark ink over the high spots and heat embossed it with clear powder (funny, it seems to make it a different colour, which is pretty cool).  I then dry embossed some green card with a wavy design, inked over it with distress inks and diecut it with a chevron die.  Hey presto, grass!  I also diecut a little bit of grass as well in lighter green to frame the image.

The Time for Tea image is coloured with Reno pens, fussy cut out, then the ball covered with Glossy Accents.  Al's eyes have highlights done with white gel pen.  These are all layered using different thicknesses of foam tape to make it more 3D.

Digi Image: Time for Tea Football Al - Get it here: https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/184833429/football-al-digital-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_2&ga_search_query=football%2BAl
Word EF: Cuttlebug
grassy EF: Sizzix
Grass die: Impression Obsession
Chevron die: Couture Creations

Shared on Challenges:
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/time-out-challenges-47.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/124-card-for-child-stitchy-bears-digi.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/pennys-challenge-260.html

Beary Happy

How's this for a bit of fun? Gotta love this bear!

I made this for the Catch the Bug Bingo - and chose the diecut-stitches-sentiment line.

Image: Bugaboo, coloured with Reno pens
Nesting Dies: Spellbinders
Stitched stamp: Hero Arts
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's
Shine on balloon: Wink of Stella white



Shared on challenge:

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-bingo-challenge.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-68.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-408-bit-of-fun.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/pennys-challenge-260.html
http://www.wheretheheartischallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-5.html

Dreams Flourish

I don't use my flourishes enough, I forget how they are special on their own or as part of another design.

This one-layer card starts with a smooshed base made from distress inks and perfect pearls.  This flourish stamp, which I have had for years as part of a set but never used before, is the perfect shape for the smoosh.  I gold embossed the flourish and the sentiment (which jumped out of the box begging to go on here).

Flourish Stamp: Hero Arts
Sentiment stamp:  Penny Black

Shared on challenges:

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/week-258-one-layer.html
http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2016/01/hls-january-cas-challenge.html
http://casology.blogspot.se/2016/01/week-180-open.html

feather weight

Stencil


Some days I like to get inky - I did this on one of my arty days.  I smooshed the background over green card, let it dry.  Then overstamped with French script, and stencilled feathers with home made texture paste.  Dribbled, flicked and sprayed with watered inks and misters, wiped some off/left some on.  Diecut bird from wet and crumpled paper, that had some chalk ink swiped over.  Inked and distressed the edges, mounted it off set onto a base card then doodled two edges.

Stencil: TCW Balzer designs
French writing stamp: Rubbadubbadoo
Diecut: Impression Obsession


Shared on challenges:
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=3936
http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2016/01/hls-january-mixed-media-challenge.html

Birdsong

It is mid summer here and all the fruit trees are just coming ripe.  Now, I love birds and I don't mind sharing the fruit trees with them, but have you noticed they all seem to choose a different fruit and take one peck from each?



This is from a Verve sketch (and you all know I love sketches), which I didn't like and still don't; it seems arkward somehow.  However, that just makes it more of a challenge.

I used a square card to make it look better.  The stamps are all from a NEW Clear Impressions stamp set, coloured with Reno markers.  The blossoms and eggs are highlighted with Wink of Stella clear.  The foliage diecuts are Couture Creations, inked.


Shared on challenge:
http://vlvsketches.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/viva-la-verve-january-2016-sketch-1.html
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-challenge-anything-goes-with.html
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/welcome-back-to-first-challenge-of-new.html
http://open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca/2016/01/monthly-challenge-1-something-new.html

Swinging

Now and then I like to do a fancy-fold card, and this one uses a special die.  I have only used it this once and may never use it again!  It took me nearly a day to cut all the pieces, and put it together!  It is lovely, but only a SPECIAL person will ever get one of these.  :-D

Sentiment stamp heat embossed in gold.  Pearls added.

Die: Elizabeth Oval Accordian
Sentiment Stamp: Hastings Rubber Arts Stamps
Flower die: Memory Box

Shared on challenges:

http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/pennys-challenge-258-winners-and-top-3.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/challenge-25.html
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/challenge-94.html

Home tweet

Now and then we girls need a bit of lace in our lives.  I made this after a while of doing modern and CAS cards and thoroughly enjoyed the change.  For someone moving into a new home.

The notepaper is just that, torn from small notepad that has little pictures in the corner, all of them lovely.  This birdhouse dictated the colour scheme, that lovely duck egg blue, which I love.  Lots of little elements here - a doily, lace, ribbon, pearls, al tiny bird and a stamped, painted, cut out flower, all on a layered background one of which is distressed, the other crisp and stitched.

Flower Stamp: Penny Black
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's
Bird die: Kaisercraft
Doily die: Nellie
Stitched rectangle: Dienamics



Shared on challenges:

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.se/2016/01/week-345-ribbon-and-lace.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-342-florals.html
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/flowers.html
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-challenge-anything-goes-with.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-something-new-2/
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/welcome-back-to-first-challenge-of-new.html

Whatever

This is a sentiment stamp I have had for a while now, but never used and never really figured out how to use it.  For this challenge I decided it was perfect - simple - and what's more, it's all purpose, you could use it for  ... whatever!


It's a one-layer card, spritzed with Moonlight Glimmermist and Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls, then overstamped with Ranger Cobalt sentiment and Versafine sepia for the flourishes.  Sentiment stamp (slightly distressed) and flourish stamps are both Hero Arts. The first card I made, I clear embossed the sentiment and flourishes but I didn't like it, so I did it again plain and this is it.

This was very empowering!! That stamp had always intimidated me.  Not any more.

Shared on challenges:

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/week-258-one-layer.html
http://casology.blogspot.se/2016/01/week-179-simple.html
http://stamplorations.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/cas-challenge-january.html#more

Hot butterflies

CASE'd  Kylies card from Happy Little Stampers (CASE the designer challenge - see right).  I think what Kylie did was so simple and smart and looks so gorgeous, that I wanted to go a different way.  Also with the sketch, I don't like to be rigid with design, so I loosened it up a bit.

For the sketch, I did a simple diagonal diecut squadron of butterflies fluttering off the corner and a black heat-embossed sentiment that reflects the angle.  The diecut is all-in-one so I had to cut them apart and put them back again, then inked the wing edges.  The die comes with quite big antennae but it looked complicated and messy so I decided to leave them off and put a gem on instead.


Die: Memory Box Fairyland Butterflies
Sentiment stamp: Rosies

I do like the hot pink and orange together, not really a colour combo I would normally choose.   It's the first time I've used the stamp & the die.

 Right: the card before I inked the wings, what a difference.


Shared on challenges:
http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2016/01/january-case-designer-kylie-purtell.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge-3rd-of-january.html
http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/week-394-with-simon-says-stamp.html
http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/new-technique-die-stamp-colors.html

The evil twin wants to call this one 'hot buttered flies" ...

Piggy

Pigwit

"Love you to the stars and back" is what is written on the BP; it says it all, so it doesn't need a sentiment.  The BP has stars diecut (partial cut)  from it to show the ivory base card through with Wink of Stella.  The image is coloured with distress inks, firstly smooshed, then painted in, then splattered over a mask. Scraps of coordinating papers and a sunshine diecut in black card to finish.
I reckon this is a card a guy could give someone without feeling it was overly sentimental, but still has the message.



BP: Dear Lizzy
Image: From the Heart Stamps (new)
Star die: Memory Box Starry night background die (new)
Sun die: Dienamics

Sorry, I didn't make the "black/white/one colour twist", but it needed two colours!   It did make the sketch though.
Shared on challenges:
http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2016/01/04/i-heart-card-sketches-with-a-twist-133/
http://www.wheretheheartischallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-5.html
http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/new-technique-die-stamp-colors.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge.html

Poppy

As you all know I love working with sketches and this was a bit tricky because I wanted to combine it with some other elements of another challenge.  I have used the sketch turned around with the flower as the large circle, the chair as the little flower, the ribbon as the band, and the sanded, inked, embossed playing card is the rectangle.
The poppy is stamped over some smooshed watercolour paper (really thick and spongy and hard to cut out), and gold pen highlights added.  The grey chair is distressed with blue and white inks.
Also, as you are probably aware by now, I like NOT putting sentiments on.  It leaves a bit of room for someone to interpret for themselves ... and sometimes that is quite different from how it started out.

Stamp: IndigoBlu (I LOVE this stamp)
Die cut chair: Marianne
EF: Sizzix

Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/mojo-monday-429-contest.html
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-175-photo-inspiration.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-67.html
http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-169.html
http://creationsnz.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/poppy.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-342-florals.html
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-challenge-anything-goes-with.html

Zebz

Gotta love Zebz,  and three are better than one, right?  It seems like he is looking right at you.

My new thing this year is to work in colours that make me uncomfortable and I have discovered that it really challenges me.  SO this is the orange one.
 






this photo taken in daylight:






Image: I don't know where I got this, has been in my odd bits and pieces box for ages (thank you, whoever you are!)
Diecut mesh: Couture Creations (left loose over back rectangle)
Sentiment stamp: Fundamentals
Zeb ribbon: from stash
Shared on challenges:
http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/week-393-with-sami-stamps.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-407-hey-whats-new.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-67.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/123-sls-lines-anything-goes.html

Scarlette dahling!

Scarlette here, talking to all you gals out there!  Let's drink to a fantastically superdelish 2016!  Are you with me? YES!

This image is one of my favourites, you can make her anything and she is one in a million.  I kept it simple because there is enough going on without me interfering!  Mmmm, I think maybe she is my alter ego!

Image: Bugaboo (coloured with Reno pens)
Diecut frame: Marianne
Stamp: Fundamentals (just kinda tucked in there!)
Wink of Stella - drink, cherry and lips.



Shared on challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/stella-says-sketch-happy-new-year.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/challenge-195.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/123-sls-lines-anything-goes.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge-3rd-of-january.html
http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/one-for-girls.html
http://thecraftyaddicts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-6.html

Hello flowers

I don't like flowers, said no girl EVER!

We all love a little bouquet now and then don't we?  Even on a card?  Here's one for YOU!
Smooshing with distress inks and metallic gold spray.  Stamped over, then flowers and leaves gently coloured with the residual inks.  When dry highlighted with white gel pen.

Click on pic for closeup.

Flower stamp: Penny Black
Sentiment stamp: Tim Holtz


photo inspiration:
Shared on challenges:
http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2016/01/hls-january-cas-challenge.html
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-175-photo-inspiration.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-342-florals.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/challenge-195.html
http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-challenge-one-for-girls.html

Smooshed

Smooshed!Pinspiration; Neutrals

I smooshed some linen finish card with distress inks hickory smoke and black soot and a some metallic silver.  A real feather and a feather die cut from metallic card stapled on.


                                         Pinspiration:





Diecut feather: HOTP



Shared on challenges:

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/week-257-colour.html
http://www.pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/pinspirational-challenge-156.html
http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2016/01/hls-january-cas-challenge.html

In the woods

I am now officially obsessed with neutral gray cards!  I can't stop making them and getting more ideas as I go.

I stamped the background onto mid-dark grey card using Versamagic cloud white chalk ink, and in the stamping it made the loveliest texture (click on the pic to see it bigger).

Feather diecut from vellum and embossed, taped on with music washi tape.

Stamp: Hero Arts (this is a negative stamp)
Die: HOTP

Shared on challenges:

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/week-257-colour.html
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-challenge-anything-goes-with.html
http://www.pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/pinspirational-challenge-156.html

Dress for Ellie

My neighbour's teenager won a national design competition with her dress, so I made this to congratulate her. I was away from home at the time, so it had to be simple.  I found the EF while travelling, so made the card when I arrived at a cardmaking friends house.

Origami-fold dress instructions I got from the internet, purchased ribbon rose.

EF: Kaisercraft

Shared on challenges:
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/challenge-195.html